Safety works at Mullagh Cross expected to begin next year

Safety works at Mullagh Cross between Summerhill and Dunboyne, are expected to take place next year with Meath County Council preparing to start the planning process for the project shortly.

The work will come as a huge relief to local residents, who have warned that lives will be lost if safety measures aren't implemented.

"There were three accidents within seven days at Mullagh Cross last summer. It is very dangerous and there have been countless accidents there," said Cllr Caroline O'Reilly.

Residents have spoken of experiencing multiple near misses because of very poor visibility at the cross and compared crossing the junction to “a game of Russian roulette.”

At a meeting of Ratoath Municipal Council last week, Cllr O'Reilly asked when plans for both Mullagh Cross and Newtownmoyaghy going to be submitted for planning.

"When are the projects due to commence now that some funding has been sourced. What are the plans for Mullagh Cross funding and how far will this funding bring this project. What are the projected stages and timelines for both projects?" she asked.

She was told the required environmental, appraisal, design and planning reports for both the R156 Mullagh Cross and the Newtownmoyaghy schemes have been drafted and formal requests have been issued to the Department of Transport to commence the Statutory Planning process for both schemes. The R156 Mullagh Cross scheme is expected to progress to the Part 8 planning process while the Newtownmoyaghy scheme requires a Natura Impact Statement application to An Bord Pleanála.

Applications for funding are made to the Department of Transport on an annual basis as schemes progress.

Progression of these schemes is dependent on Department of Transport approval, statutory planning consent, land acquisition agreements and funding and it is currently hoped that construction of these two schemes will commence in 2026.

Last September councillors heard of plans to make the junction safer. The proposals included the realignment of the R125 East to create a staggered priority junction with access to a private dwelling off a new local road. There are also plans for minor road improvements along the R156 and R125.

“This junction has been known as being very dangerous for 20 odd years, it is high time something was done to make it safer," said Cllr O'Reilly

“We need better visibility. People travelling in the Dunshaughlin to Kilcock direction have very poor visibility.”